Grassroots, nonpartisan group launches website to provide updates, encourage public to join in the effort
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. – Voters Not Politicians volunteers and constituents of embattled Michigan Rep. Larry Inman are renewing calls for his resignation following a hearing on his request to dismiss the federal charges against him. His motion to dismiss was denied.
“Constituents of Rep. Inman like me have now been without representation in Michigan’s House of Representatives over three months with no clear sign of any type of resolution,” said Kathy Tuckerman, Voters Not Politicians volunteer and constituent. “With a term of only 24 months, this is ridiculous. The fact that his own party asked him to step down and he is no longer on any committees while still collecting a taxpayer-funded paycheck is just wrong. Larry Inman needs to do what is best for himself and his constituents and resign.”
Inman received grand jury indictments on three charges for alleged extortion, soliciting bribes, and making a false statement to the FBI in an apparent cash-for-votes scheme. Recent court proceedings have brought to light additional text messages between Inman and a union business manager.
“As a constituent, I feel betrayed by Representative Inman,” said Voters Not Politicians volunteer and constituent Donna Moore. “Although the court process still needs to play out, I do not feel comfortable being represented by someone who has these kind of allegations against them, particularly after he was thrown out of his own caucus and stripped of his committee assignments. That’s not democracy. I do not feel like my voice is being heard in Lansing.”
Voters Not Politicians launched www.InmanMustResign.com, which provides updates on the scandal and an opportunity for Michigan voters to add their name in support of Rep. Inman’s resignation. Hundreds of voters have already signed the petition in-district and online.
“Rep. Inman has missed over 80 crucial votes since this scandal began, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg,” said Margaret Monsour, Voters Not Politicians volunteer and constituent. “When the legislature gets back to Lansing, they will be voting on important issues like the budget, road funding, and legislation to make government more transparent. Voters like me deserve representation, and it’s time for Rep. Inman to do the right thing and step down.”
Voters Not Politicians, the group that successfully passed Proposal 2 with 61% of the vote to end partisan gerrymandering in 2018, continues to build on its nonpartisan, grassroots volunteer ranks to further pro-democracy initiatives to put political power back into the hands of the people.
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Voters Not Politicians is a nonpartisan advocacy organization that works to strengthen democracy by engaging people across Michigan in effective citizen action. Learn more at www.votersnotpoliticians.com.
